Member of the House of Representatives Amal Rizk-Allah quoted the World Health Organization (WHO), saying that e-cigarettes are not any safer than regular cigarettes, whilst adding that many studies warn against the risks posed by these products.
Sadly, Rizk-Allah inaccurately added that claims that the devices reduce the risk of cancer are not true. She said that the devices increase blood lipids, resulting in arteriosclerosis and heart weakness, adding that they may also negatively affect the brain, cause high blood pressure, and cause fertility and sexual ability problems.
To this effect, she is urging the Ministry of Foreign Trade to ban the import of e-cigarettes, and also place strict controls on outlets which them.
Comparing Emissions from HnBs, E-Cigs and Cigarettes
Meanwhile, contrary to Rizk-Allah’s arguments, a number of independent studies have indicated the relative safety of the products. A 2018 study by renowned anti-smoking expert Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos had analyzed and compared carbonyl emissions from an HnB device, an e-cigarette and a regular cigarette.
WHEN COMPARING 20 HEETS STICKS WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF CIGARETTES, AN 81.7 TO 97.9% LEVEL OF REDUCED EMISSIONS WERE MEASURED.
The products used in this study were PMI’s IQOS, both regular and menthol variants, the Nautilus Mini e-cigarette, a tank-type atomizer tested with a tobacco-flavoured liquid at 10 W and 14 W and a Marlboro Red cigarette. Aerosol and smoke were collected in impingers containing 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and Health Canada Intense and two more intense puffing regimes were used to measure levels of carbonyl.
When using 5g of e-cigarette liquid, in comparison to 20 cigarettes a 92.2 to 99.8% reduced level of carbonyls is noted. Whilst when comparing 20 heets sticks with the same amount of cigarettes an 81.7 to 97.9% level of reduced emissions were measured.
HnB have lower emissions than cigarettes but higher than e-cigs
At Health Canada Intense regime, heated tobacco products emitted 5.0-6.4 μg/stick formaldehyde, 144.1-176.7 μg/stick acetaldehyde, 10.4-10.8 μg/stick acrolein, 11.0-12.8 μg/stick propionaldehyde and 1.9-2.0 μg/stick crotonaldehyde. Compared with the tobacco cigarettes, levels for HnB devices were found to be 91.6% lower for formaldehyde, 84.9% lower for acetaldehyde, 90.6% lower for acrolein, 89.0% lower for propionaldehyde and 95.3% lower for crotonaldehyde.
With regards to e-cigarettes, no levels of propionaldehyde and crotonaldehyde, and very low levels of the other carbonyls were detected. When using 5g of e-cigarette liquid, in comparison to 20 cigarettes a 92.2 to 99.8% reduced level of carbonyls is noted. Whilst when comparing 20 heets sticks with the same amount of cigarettes an 81.7 to 97.9% level of reduced emissions were measured.
Therefore, the researchers had concluded that HnB devices emit substantially lower levels of carbonyls than a regular cigarettes, but higher levels than e-cigarettes.
Read Further: Egypt Independant
